Man kicked by Seattle cop in video gets $42,000

An internal investigation by Seattle police cleared the officer

By PoliceOne Staff

SEATTLE — The city will pay a $42,000 settlement to a man who filed a lawsuit alleging civil rights violations occurred when a Seattle police officer kicked him in 2010.

D'Vontaveous Hoston, 19, was stopped at a convenience store in connection to suspected involvement in the assault of an undercover Seattle officer in a drug operation. In a surveillance video, Officer James J. Lee was seen kicking Hoston three times.

Hoston was charged with attempted robbery, but acquitted at trial, The Seattle Times reported. Lee's charge of fourth-degree assault was dropped when an expert witness for prosecutors changed his mind about the events.

Although an internal investigation by Seattle police also cleared Lee, the encounter was one of several use-of-force scenarios that civic groups cited in asking the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the department.

In 2011, Hoston received an 18-month prison term stemming from unlawful possession of a firearm in downtown Seattle. During that incident, police said Hoston’s cousin yelled to Hoston that he was putting his lawsuit at risk.